Improvement in electro-magnetic hotel-annunciators



2 Sheets-Sheet GEORGE B. SCOTT.

Magnetic Hotel Annuniators lmprovemnt in Electro (-50.) 2 Sheets--Sheet2.

GEORGE B. SCGTT.V

mprovement inElctro-Magnetc Hotel Annunciators.

IUI/@M01 sf MEZ? UNITED STA'rEs GEORGE B. SCOTT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC HOTEL-ANNUNCIATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,664, dated January9, 1872.

Specification describing a certain Improvement in Hotel Annunciators,invented by GEORGE B. SCOTT, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings andState of New York.

This invention relates to that class of' hotelv annunciators which areoperated by currents of electricity; and my improvement consists, iirst,in the employment, for each room, of a revolving roller bearing on itsperiphery a blank space and a series of numerals indicative of certainarticles or words, according to a previously-arranged code, which rolleris mount ed behind a transparent space of an opaque pane of glass,showing only one of the spaces into which the periphery of the roller isdivided at one time, and is operated by an electro magnet andescapement; and second, in the arrangement of a key for each tell-talemagnet and connecting-wires by means of which the clerk can, afteranswering the call, short-circuit part of the battery, and thus returnthe particular roller to the starting point without interfering withother signals which may be coming.

Figure l is a perspective view of an annunciator for a single room. Fig.2 is a vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 is a similar section in v aplane at right angles to the one in which the section shown in Fig. 2was taken. Fig. 4 is a vertical section, showing the bell andbellmagnet. Fig. 5 is a plan View, showing several tell-tale magnets andone arrangement of wires and keys.

The same letters of reference are employed in all the figures in thedesignation of identical parts.

The case A of the annunciator is of sufficient size to receive therequired number of tell-tale magnets and a bell and bell-magnet. Thebattery B may also be inclosed therein, if desired. The number oftell-tale magnets C O corresponds with the number of guest-chambers inthe hotel, and each magnet is provided with an armature, D, terminatingat its free end in pallets d d', engaging with an escapenient orratchet-wheel, El. The latter is fastened to a roller, E1 and both aremounted on a shaft, E2, so as to turn loosely thereon, with theperiphery of the roller in close proximity to the glass side A of thecase A. rlhe roller E bears upon its periphery one blank space and aseries of numerals each of which indicates a certain thing which may beordered by the guest from his room, where printed directions are hung upgiving the signification of each numeral. A transparent space, a, isformed in the opaque glass A opposite to each roller E, of a size justsufficient to expose one division of the periphery of the roller at atime, andabove each such space a is clearly painted the number of theroom with which the magnet operating this particular roller isconnected. The escapement wheel E has as many teeth as there aredivisions on the periphery of the roller E, so that each operation ofthe escap ement-l ever will turn the latter the distance of onedivision. F refers to a bell which is struck each time the circuit isclosed by a guest in his room by the hammer F attached to the armatureof the bell-magnet G, as best seen in Fig. 4. One pole of the battery isconnected by the wire b with the bellmagnet, whence it goes to ground.The other pole of the battery is connected by the main Wire c andbranches c c c to each of the telltale magnets (l, whence wires e e elead to the respective rooms and are fastened to the keys orcircuit-closers there provided. From the anvil of the key in each room awire leads to ground. ln closing the circuit by the key in aguest-chamber the current passes first through the bell-magnet,operating the hammer of the bell, thence through the ground and a wire,e', through the tell-tale magnet operating the escapemeut-lever, andnally reaches the other pole of the battery. When all is at rest theblank space of each roller will show through the transparent slit of theopaque glass A. The occupant of a room now gives a certain number ofstrokes or pulls, as the case may be, which cause-s the tell-tale magnetconnected with his room to revolve the roller registering the nulnber ofstrokes just below the number of his room. At the same time the bell isstruck once for each of his pulls or strokes, to call the attention ofthe clerk to the annunciator. In answering, the clerk returns the rollerto the starting point. This is accomplished by the following means: Thewire f is connected at one end to the battery, and, passing thence, isprovided with branches j" which go to the fulcrums of open keys H on theoutside of the box of the annunciator. When this key is closed a currentwill pass from one pole of the battery through the Wires ff', tell-talemagnet, and Wires c' c, to the other pole ofthe battery withoutaffecting the bell-magnet or interfering with signals comin g throughthe other teil-taie inagnets.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. The magnet C and escapement consisting of the armature D d d andwheel E', in cour bination With the numbered roller E and thetransparent slit or space a of the case A, all

arranged and operating substantially as specitied.

2. In a hotel annuneiator, substantially such as described, thearrangement of the battery, tell-tale magnets, key H, and wires] f and cc', in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony WhereofI have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

Witnesses: GEO. B. SCOTT.

HENRY C. BANKS, JOHN B. PERRY.

